Female part of a snap fastener

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a female part of a snap fastener including a first reception area ( 15 ) for locking a first male part ( 40 ). According to the invention, the female part further includes a second reception area ( 16 ) for locking a second male part ( 46, 47 ) is provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a female part of a snap fastener including a first reception area for locking a first male part. In this regard, a reception area is understood to be an area which is formed so that the male part locks with the female part when the male part is received in the reception area. Therefore, it can also be referred to a locking area since the reception of the male part involves the locking of the two parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Female parts of the above-mentioned kind are known from the prior art. For example, they can be found on jackets or overcoats, the male part being attached to a hood belonging thereto. Another example is a bag having a female part and a cover serving for closing the bag and having a male part. Moreover, snap fasteners are used for various other purposes.

Depending on the intended purpose, different demands are made on the snap fasteners. This applies to the opening force and/or the closing force, for example. In order to meet these requirements, the male parts are sometimes constructed differently; i.e. they are constructed such that they are suited for the respective purposes. In the case of ordinary snap fasteners, this involves the necessity to also construct the female parts differently, especially in such a way that they are suited for the male part. This involves considerable effort.

It is an object of the invention to develop the female part of the aforementioned kind in such a way that it is applicable for several purposes.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by means of a female part of a snap fastener including a first reception area for locking a first male part, characterised in that the female part further including a second reception area for locking a second male part.

In other words, the female part according to the invention can be coupled with at least two different male parts, so that it is suited for more purposes as if it could only be coupled to a single male part. The two reception areas may have any relative positions with view to each other; particularly they can overlap or include each other. There may be a male part fitting into both reception areas.

According to the invention, the two reception areas can differ in any way, as long as it is guaranteed that they are suited for cooperating with male parts of different designs. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the first reception area differs from the second reception area with view to its inner dimension, preferably transverse to an inserting direction.

Especially in case that the two reception areas differ in their inner dimensions transverse to an inserting direction, it is further preferred that the first and the second reception area are concentric to each other.

This embodiment results in a very compact overall design.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second reception area encircles the first reception area.

A very simple embodiment is achieved if an inner wall of the second reception area is at least partly identical with an outer wall of the first reception area.

It is further preferred that the second reception area is ring-shaped. Thus, it is possible to place the first reception area within the second reception area.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a cap is provided on the side facing the male part when fastened. Thus it is possible to provide an embellishment, for example by means of coating or stamping of the cap.

Additionally or alternatively, a kettle or cover can be provided as an outer envelope. Thus, higher separation forces can be obtained.

The cover may have open or a closed bottom.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the cap and/or the cover is/are made of metal.

For fixing the snap fastener to a carder material or textile strip, a cap with a post and/or a 2-prong-cap can be used. Especially the 2-prong-cap permits highest separation forces or tensile strength.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the female part has a main body in which the first and the second reception area are provided. This embodiment is especially advantageous with view to the expenditure in manufacturing.

Furthermore, according to the invention it is preferred that the main body comprises plastic material.

In the following, the invention is described referring to preferred embodiments thereof shown in the figures. In detail,

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a main body of a female part according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 2 to 4 show sectional views of female parts according to the invention according to different embodiments of the invention,

FIGS. 5 to 7 show partial sectional exploded views of snap fasteners with the female parts according to FIGS. 2 to 4,

FIGS. 8 to 10 show sectional views of the snap fasteners according to FIGS. 5 to 7 when assembled, but when opened,

FIG. 11 shows the same view as FIG. 8, but when closed,

FIG. 12 shows the same view as FIG. 11, but with the female part according to FIGS. 5 and 8 and the male part according to FIGS. 6 and 9,

FIG. 13 shows the same view as FIG. 9, but when closed,

FIG. 14 shows the same view as FIG. 13, but with the female part according to FIGS. 6 and 9 and the male part according to FIGS. 5 and 8,

FIG. 15 shows the same view as FIG. 14, but with the female part according to FIGS. 7 and 10 and the male part according to FIGS. 5 and 8 and

FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 15, but with the male part according to FIGS. 6 and 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a main body 10 forming the core of a female part of a snap fastener according to an embodiment of the invention. The main body 10 of the female part is made of a plastic material and includes a base portion 11 disposed on the rear side of the main body 10 and having a through hole 12 formed therethrough through which posts of caps 34, 36 or a pair of prongs of a cap 38 can be inserted, as closely described hereinbelow, and a fitting portion 13 disposed on the front side of the main body 10 and adapted for fitting engagement with male parts. The fitting portion 13 is opened in its front side to thus have a fitting recess 14 formed therein for receiving fitting projections of the male parts when the fitting projections of the male parts are forced in the direction denoted by “D”. The fitting recess 14 has the through hole 12 formed in its bottom so that the fitting recess 14 communicates with the through hole 12. The fitting recess 14 and the through hole 12 are both circular and are concentric to each other on the axis of the main body 10.

The fitting recess 14 includes a first reception area or inner reception area 15 and a second reception area or outer reception area 16 adapted to accommodate fitting projections 42, 43,43′ of different shapes provided on different kinds of male parts 40, 46, 47. Specifically, the fitting recess 14 is composed of the inner reception area 15 disposed in the centre radially of the fitting recess 14 and the annular outer reception area 16 disposed so as to encircle the periphery of the inner reception area 15. The fitting recess 14 has a first cylindrical wall 19 having an inner diameter “r” and a second cylindrical wall 20 having an inner diameter “R” which is greater than the inner diameter “r”. The inner reception area 15 is a space defined by the inner periphery of the first cylindrical wall 19, and the outer reception area 16 is a space defined by and between the outer periphery of the first cylindrical wall 19 and the inner periphery of the second cylindrical wall 20. It follows from this that the first cylindrical wall 19 constitutes a border wall disposed between the inner reception area 15 and the outer reception area 16 and that the first cylindrical wall 19 constitutes both an outer wall for the inner reception area 15 and an inner wall for the outer reception area 16.

Furthermore, the fitting portion 13 of the female part has a pair of annular ribs 17, 18 formed on the first and second cylindrical wall 19, 20 in order to prevent the male parts 40, 46, 47 from coming out of engagement with the inner and outer reception area 15, 16 of the fitting recess 14. The annular ribs 17, 18 are provided on the upper rims or edges of the first and second cylindrical walls 19, 20, respectively, so as to project therefrom toward the centre of the fitting recess 14. In other words, the annular rib 17 projecting from the upper edge of first cylindrical wall 19 extends inward of the inner reception area 15 and the annular rib 18 projecting from the upper edge of the second cylindrical wall 20 extends into the outer reception area 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a kettle or cover 21 made of metal is attached to the periphery of the main body 10 of the female part and is comprised of a bottom portion 22 facing the rear side of the main body 10, a side portion 23 facing the side portion of the main body 10 and a top portion 24 facing the front side of the main body 10. The top portion 24 of the cover 21 has a through aperture 25 formed therethrough at the position wherein the top portion 24 faces the fitting recess 14 formed in the front side of the maim body 10. The male parts can be inserted into the fitting recess 14 of the female part through the aperture 25. The bottom portion 22 of the cover 21 faces the through hole 12 formed in the rear side of the main body 10 and thus closes the through hole 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a metal cover 26 attached to the main body 10 has a bottom portion 27 facing the rear side of the main body 10, as well as a side portion 23, a top portion 24 and an aperture 25 as the metal cover 21 shown in FIG. 2. However, this metal cover 26 differs from the metal cover 21 in that the bottom portion 27 of the cover 26 has a through aperture 28 formed in registry with the through hole 12 of the main body 10. So, the posts of the caps 34, 36 or the two prongs of the cap 38 can be inserted into the through hole 12 through the aperture 28 of the cover 26.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a metal cover 29 attached to the main body 10 has a side portion 30, as well as a top portion 24 and an aperture 25 as the metal covers 21, 26 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, this metal cover 29 differs from the metal covers 21, 26 in that first the metal cover 29 lacks a bottom portion which would face the rear side of the main body 10 and secondly the side portion 30 of the metal cover 29 faces only the side of the fitting portion 13 but not the side of the base portion 11.

FIGS. 5 and 10 show that the plastic body 10 can be attached to a textile strip 32 in at least three different ways. Namely, for this purpose, any of caps 34, 36 with a post or a 2-prong-cap 38 can be used. According to FIGS. 5 and 8, the 2-prong-cap is especially recommendable if the cover 21 with the closed bottom portion 22 is attached to the main body 10. By using the 2-prong cap. 38, the two prongs of the cap 38 piece the closed bottom portion 22 of the metal cover 21, thus elastically deforming it, so that highest separation forces or tensile strength can be obtained for joining the main body 10 and the cap 38. Separation forces or tensile strength which are also rather high can be obtained when a cap 34, 36 with a post is used in combination with the main body 10 covered with the cover 26 with an open bottom 28. The main body 10 and the cap 34, 36, 38 can be thus joined with each other, so that a textile strip 32 can be clamped between the main body 10 and the cap 34, 36, 38.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 10 the fixing can be carried out waterproof. Furthermore, in all three embodiments stampings can be provided on the covers 21,26,29 and the caps 38,34,36, respectively, which stampings serve as an embellishment. Further, they can be galvanized and/or varnished.

In FIGS. 5 to 10, there are shown three different male parts 40, 46 and 47. For fixing them to a textile strip 52, various caps may be used; namely, caps 49, 50 with a post and a 2-prong-cap 51 can be joined with the male part 40, 46, 47, so that a textile strip 52 can be clamped between the male part and the caps.

Each of the male part 40, 46 and 47 is comprised of a disk-like base 41 and a fitting projection 42, 43 formed protuberantly on the front surface of the disk-like base 41 in the centre. The fitting projection 42, 43 are different from each other in their shapes.

The fitting projection 42 of the male part 40 is substantially cylindrical and is formed according to the S-spring system. The fitting projection 42 has its distal end bulged radially thereof or perpendicularly or transverse to the direction in which fitting projection 42 projects, to thus provide a large-diametered bulged head portion 44. The fitting projection 42 has a neck portion 45 formed adjacent the proximal end thereof. The neck portion 45 is smaller in diameter than the bulged head portion 44.

On the other hand, the fitting projections 43, 43′ of the male parts 46, 47 are formed according to the S-spring system. Each of the fitting projections 43, 43′ is annular around its axis which extends in the direction in which the fitting projection 43, 43′ projects. The annular fitting projection 43 of the male part 46 has its distal rim bulged to provide a bulged portion 48, while the annular fitting projection 43′ of the male part 47 has no bulged portion 48.

As can especially be taken from a combination of FIGS. 11 and 12, the main body 10 can cooperate with two different male parts, namely male parts 40 and 46, because the fitting recess 14 provided in the main body 10 is comprised of the inner reception area 15 for co-operating with the male part 40 and the outer reception area 16 for co-operating with the male part 46.

Reference is first made below to the co-operation between the main body 10 and the male part 40. When the fitting projection 42 of the male part 40 is forced into the inner reception area 15 of the fitting recess 14 of the main body 10, the bulged head portion 44 of the fitting projection 42 contacts the annular rib 17 provided on the first cylindrical wall 19 of the fitting recess 14, and the first cylindrical wall 19 is elastically deformed in such a direction to increase in its diameter. As soon as the bulged head portion 44 passes over the annular rib 17 deeply into the inner reception area 15, the first cylindrical wall 19 restores into the original shape under its resiliency and thus the annular rib 17 contacts the neck portion 45. Consequently, the bulged head portion 44 comes into locking engagement with the rib 17, so that the fitting projection 42 is prevented from coming off the inner reception area 15 of the fitting recess 14.

Reference is next made below to the co-operation between the main body 10 and the male part 46. When the fitting projection 43 of the male part 46 is forced into the outer reception area 16 of the fitting recess 14 of the main body 10, the bulged portion 48 of the fitting projection 43 contacts the annular rib 18 provided on the second cylindrical wall 20 of the fitting recess 14, and either the second cylindrical wall 20 is elastically deformed in such a direction to increase in its diameter or the fitting projection 43 is elastically deformed in such a direction to decrease in its diameter. As soon as the bulged portion 48 passes over the annular rib 18 deeply into the outer reception area 16, the second cylindrical wall 20 or the fitting projection 43 restores into the original shape. Consequently, the bulged portion 48 comes into locking engagement with the rib 18, so that the fitting projection 43 is prevented from coming off the outer reception area 16 of the fitting recess 14.

Similarly, FIGS. 13 and 14 as well as FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively, show that one and the same main body 10 is suited for working together with different male parts 40,46.

Thus, it is possible, for example, to achieve different clamping forces with only one main body, namely, for example, by means of a combination with male part 40 on the one hand and male part 46 on the other hand.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

According to the present invention, a female part of a snap fastener is obtained which can co-operate with various types of male parts so that it is applicable for various purposes.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the amended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A female part of a snap fastener, including a first reception area for locking a first male part, characterized in that the female part further including a second reception area for locking a second male part.
 2. The female part according to claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the first reception area differs from the inner diameter of the second reception area.
 3. The female part according to claim 1, wherein the first reception area differs from the second reception area in their respective inner diameters transverse to the direction in which the male part is inserted into the female part.
 4. The female part according to claim 1, wherein the first and second reception areas are concentric to each other.
 5. The female part of claim 1, wherein the second reception area encircles the first reception area.
 6. The female part of claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the second reception area is at least partly identical with an outer wall of the first reception area.
 7. The female part of claim 1, wherein the second reception area is ring-shaped. 